Wrapping machine for razor blades or the like



Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. MILLS 2,522,234

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. away w j zr zzs,

Sept. 12, 1950 J. M L 2,522,234

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES 03 THELIKE Filed Nov. 1. 1946 '9Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. MILLS 2,522,234

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet s m a INVENTOR. whrl' e 'v wa W 6 BY P 1950 J. E. MILLS2,522,234

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. wwzmhmz z pww p 1950 'J. E. MILLS 2,522,234

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. daizyi'dufi'ryjy'izls,

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J. E. MILLS Sept. 12, 1950' WRAPPING moans FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKEFiled Nov. 1, 1945 l 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. W 1

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.5 LEE Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. MILLS WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES ORTHE LIKE Filed Nov. 1. 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 MNQW ' IN V EN TOR. i z e vf'l 8Y2 iDID'lIlllllllll\llllllllllillll lllll I l 1 Sept. 12, 1950 J.E. MILLS WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1,1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VEN TOR.

Sept. 12, 1950 J. E. MILLS 2,522,234

WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. i f f fl zizls,

Patented Sept. 12, 1950 WRAPPING MACHINE FOR RAZOR BLADES OR THE LIKEJohn Edwin Mills, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Excel AutomaticProducts,

Inc., Newark,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 1, 1946, SerialNo. 707,288

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic wrapping machinery, and theinvention has reference, more particularly, to a novel automatic machinefor wrapping fiat articles, especially razor blades, in one or moreenveloping paper wrappers.

The invention has for its general objects to provide a novel high speedcontinuous motion wrapping machine having means to draw wrapping paperfrom a roll and thereupon form therefrom wrapper members having foldableend and side flaps, and then successively present said wrapper memberssubject to engagement by unwrapped articles or blades, as automaticallyfed from a supply of the latter, for introduction into a continuouslyrotating tumbling wheel, whereby to effect first end flap folding of thewrapper members about the articles or blades, and thereupon carry theinitially associated articles or blades and Wrapper members to positionsto be engaged by continuously moving transfer means for removing theassociated articles or blades and wrapper members from said tumblingwheel and passing the same subject to operation of last end flap foldingand side flap folding means; to further provide, in cooperation with theaforesaid initial wrapper forming and folding mechanisms, a sec-- ondcontinuousl rotating tumbling wheel together with means for supplyingouter wrappers or envelopes having end and side flaps in position to beengaged by the initially wrapped articles or blades as advanced by saidtransfer means, and

thereby entered in said second tumbling wheel for carriage to outerwrapper or envelope folding means, and past means for applying glue toflaps of the outer wrappers or envelopes for sealing said outer wrappersor envelopes, and then subject to discharge by said transfer means fromsaid second tumbling wheel and thence through outer wrapper or envelopefolding means to the discharge point of the machine; and to provide, incombination, novel tumbling wheel means having article or blade andwrapper receiving pockets provided with entrance mouths of novel formfor cooperation with novel means for entering the articles or blades andwrappers into the receiving pockets during continuous rotary movement ofthe tumbling wheel means.

The invention has for more specific objects to provide a safety razorblade wrapping machine arranged to so operate that it is impossible foran empty wrapper or envelope to be formed and discharged therefrom,since the wrapping operations are initiated by the blades to be wrapped,and if no blade is fed no wrap-per is produced, causequently, from theoutput of the wrapping machine, when supplied to a cartoning machine,empty wrappers and/or envelopes are eliminated, so that no empty wrapperor envelope detector means is required on the cartoning machine, and theuninterrupted operation of the latter is assured; to provide a wrappingmachine whereby the wrappers and/or envelopes are folded close andtightly around the blade ends, thus reducing the paper content of theblade wrappers and/or envelopes to a minimum, and providing a wrappedblade possessed of stiff unyielding ends, whereby to assure morepositive and efficient feeding thereof by the feed units of cartoningmachines to which the wrapped blades may be subsequently suppliechtoprovide an improved method of and means for applying sealing glue toblade envelopes, whereby, in the absence of an envelope, no

I glue can be deposited upon surfaces likely to cause transfer of glueto an exterior surface of a succeeding envelope, with risk of stickingwrapped blades together to the detriment of the operation of feed unitsof cartoning machines to which the wrapped blades may be subsequentlysupplied; to provide for cooperation with the wrapper and/or envelopeside flap folding mechanisms of the wrapping machine, novel anvil meansover which the folds are formed free from engagement with the sharpenededges of the blades; to provide a novel arrangement and location of theinitial Wrapper forming dies, whereby paper lint and punchings areprevented from entering upon and fouling the working parts of themachine; and to provide means for coordinating and timing the operationsof the initial wrapper forming and feeding means, the blade feedingmeans, the transfer means, glue dauber means and wrapper folding meansrelative to the continuously rotating tumbling wheel means, so that aminimum of adjustment for average variation of sizes of wrappers and/orenvelopes is required.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention, as

' adapted for wrapping safety razor blades, is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the bladewrapping machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view in part section of the paper feed anddies operative to form inner wrappers for razor blades to be wrapped,said view being drawn on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view of the same, taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view in part sectionshowing the means for introducing a blade and inner wrapper thereforinto a tumbling wheel of the machine; Fig. 5 is a similar view showinginitial positions of the blade advancing means, this view being drawn ona further enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, takenon line 6-45 in Fig. 5; and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively viewssimilar to that of Fig. 5, but showing various stages of the.

operation of the parts.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the intake side of an innerWrapper and blade tumbling wheel and associated wrapper side flapturning means.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of the tumblingwheels and associated wrapper side flap folding means together withmeans for supplying outer wrappers or envelopesv and transfer means formoving the wrapper and blades to and from the tumbling wheels andfolding means; and Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line!2! 2 in Fig. 11'.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational View in part section of the transfer meansshowing stages of its motion.

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view showin the wrapper side flapfolding means of the machine and actuating means therefor; and Fig. 15

is a similar fragmentary enlarged view, showing an initial stage 01" theoperations thereof.

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of glue dauber mechanism of themachine; and Fig. 17 is another view of the same viewed from the left inFig. 16.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of means for discharging wrappedblades from the machine; and Fig. 19 is a side elevational View of thestacking wheel thereof.

Fig. 20 is a plan view, of various coordinated means for transmittingactuating power to the several mechanisms of the machine.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the chosen embodiment of this inventionillustrated thereby is designed for wrapping safety razor blades, but itwill be understood that, without essential modificationof design or modeof operation, the machine may bereadily adapted to wrap, other kinds offlat rigid articles.

The various associated mechanisms making up the razor blade wrappingmachine are supported by a suitable framework comprising, e. g. aplurality of longitudinal, laterally spaced, upstanding frame plates 2I, 22 and 23, which are mounted on leg standards 24.

Supported by a bracket 25. at the, rear end of the machine is a roll 26of paper, such, e. g. as waxed paper, which supplies the material fromwhich inner wrappers for the blades are produced. From said supply roll28,- the web or strip of paper extends around a tensioning roll 27.which is carried by a spring restrained yieldable lever arm 28 that ispivotally supported by. said bracket 25. or strip of paper passes aroundan over-run control or stop wheel 29 which is rotatably supported by abearing bracket 36. that is affixed to the frame plate 22. Said over-runstop wheel 29. is subjected to the drag of a, spring actuated. brakemechanism 3| which is operative upon the hub thereof. From said stopwheel 29, the web or strip of paper is guided by suitably placed andFrom the tensioning roll 21, the web supported guide rollers 32, 33 and34 for passage to and between intergeared continuously rotated paperfeed rollers 3538, whereby the paper web or strip is withdrawn from thesupply roll and then delivered to intermittently operated web or stripadvancing means which cooperates with wrapper blanking dies by which theinner wrappers for the blades are formed to provide the same withfoldable end and side ilap portions. The frictional resistance offeredby the brake mechanism to rotation of the control or stop wheel 29prevents over-run of the paper or web between the same and the feedrollers 35-36, so that the paper or web, as it moves therebetween, iskept free from slack and desirably taut. The supply roll 26 may also beprovided with momentum check means adapted to maintain paying offmovement of the paper or strip from said supply roll uniform and freefrom slack; said momentum check means comprising a weighted flexiblebrake strap 31 arranged to contact the periphery of said supply roll soas to check over-running rotation thereof.

The continuously rotated feed rollers 35-36 and the wrapper blanking diemeans, together with the intermittently rotated paper web or stripadvancing means which advances the web or strip to and through theblanking die means, are mounted bJWIl laterally spaced bearing plates 38which are suspended by hangers 39 from and below the machine frameplates 2i and 22, whereby the blanking die means is located well belowthe wrapping mechanisms of the machine, so that paper lint andpunchings, resulting from the wrapper cutting operations of the blankingdie means, are directly discharged downwardly and outwardly from thelatter, and well away from said wrapping mechanisms, thus preventing theworking parts of said mechanisms from being fouled thereby. This is avery important factor in maintaining operation of the wrapping machineat high speed.

The blanking die means comprises a die base block 40 which is affixed toand between the bearing plates 38 at a point beyond the location of thecontinuously rotated paper web or strip feed rollers 35 and 36. Fixed onthe top of said base block 50 is a female die plate ti. Supported byslide rods 42, which extend vertically through the die base block 40, isa reciprocable punch head 43 which carries the male or punch dies 44 forcooperation with the die notches 45 of said female die plate ll. Meetingengagement of the male or punch dies 64 with the die notches 45 serves.

to cut away opposite side marginal portions of the paper web or strip soas to form indenting notches 66 therein. These notches 46 define wrapperside flaps 41, at the same time leaving a longitudinal narrowed portion48 between said notches 48 which, when later cut through transversely,provide. the end flap forming portions of the wrappers. The punch head43 is yieldably disposed in the normalraisedposition which separates themale or punch dies l ifrom the female die plate and its die notches 45,by compression springs 49 which are interposedv between the die baseblock 40 and said punch head 43, preferably around the slide rods 42.Carried by the punch head 43 is an upwardly yieldable, spring backedstripper plate 50, which strips the paper web'or strip from the male orpunch dies 44 when the latter are retracted after a wrapper blankingoperation. Supported on the top of said punch head 23 is ananti-friction roller 5i adapted to be engaged by a rotated cam 52, whicheffects suitably timed operative reciprocation .of, the punch head andmale or punch dies 44 for performance of wrapper blanking operations.

. Journaled in and between the bearing plates 38, adjacent to thereceiving end of the blanking die means, areintergeared paper web orstrip advancing rollers 53 and '54, and, similarly, journaled in andbetween the bearing plates '38, adjacent tothe discharge end of theblanking die means are intergeared paper web or strip dischargingrollers 55 and 56. One of the rollers, preferably the upper thereof, ofthe respective pairs of feed rollers.35-36, advancing rollers 53- 54,and discharging rollers 5555 are yieldably pressed toward thecooperating rollers, in manner well known to the art, whereby the paperweb or strip is gripped by the pinch of said pairs of rollers so as tobe forwardly impelled thereby.

Said discharging rollers 55-56 are respectively preferably provided withcooperative male and female scoring means, partially shown at 55' inFig. 3, operative to score the junctures of the side flaps 41 with thewrapper body from which they extend, whereby to facilitate thein-folding of said side flaps by the wrapping mechanisms to which thesame are subjected.

Journaled in and between the machine frame plates 22 and 23, at asuitable location, is the drive shaft Bl of the machine. Said driveshaft 51 is driven byclutch mechanism 53 from a suitable source ofpower, such, e. g. as an electric motor (not shown). Fixed on the shaft59 of the lower roller 35 of the continuously rotated paper web or stripfeed rollers 35-36 is a sprocket wheel 60 to which the power of thedrive shaft i is continuously transmitted by a chain and sprockettransmission 6|.

Mounted on and driven by said roller shaft 59 is the driving member 62of a Geneva gearing. Rotatably mounted on a journaling shaft 63, whichprojects exteriorly from the inner one of the bearing plates 38, is thedriven member 6 3 of said Geneva gearing, and connected with the latter,so as to be rotated thereby, is a drive gear 65. Fixed on the shaft 66ofthe lower roller 53 of the paper web or strip advancing rollers 5354is a gear 6? which meshes with and is driven by said drive gear 65,whereby to effect operative motion of said advancing rollers 53-434. Inlike manner, aifixed on the shaft 68 of the lower roller 55 of the paperweb or strip discharging rollers SE-56 is a gear 69, which is drivenfrom the gear 61 by intermediate idler gearing 1!], whereby to effectsimultaneous operative motion of said discharging rollers 55-56. It willbe observed that, although the paper web or strip feed rollers 35-36 arecontinuously rotated, by reason of the interposed Geneva gearing, thepaper web or strip advancing rollers 53-54 and discharging rollers 55-46will be intermittently rotated, and consequently the paper web or stripwill be intermittently moved through the wrapper blanking die means, insuch manner as to permit momentary dwell of the web or strip at theblanking die means while an operative wrapper blanking cut is beingperformed by the latter. During a period of dwell of the paper web orstrip at the blanking die means, said web or strip will continue to befed forward by the continuously rotated feed rollers 35-36, with theconsequence that a loop L will be temporarily formed in said web orstrip, which, however, will be immediately taken up or reduced by asucceeding advancing movement of the rollers 53- 54 and 55-56. The cam52 for actuating the wrapper blanking die means is preferably rotated bya driven gear ll, which is mounted on the shaft thereof, and whichmeshes with and is driven bya drive gear 12 which ,is mounted on themachine drive shaft 51.

The die formed wrapper strip, as issued from the blanking die means bythe discharging rollers 55-56, is passed around a guide roller 13 andthence upwardly to intermittently rotated preformed wrapper stripfeeding means, by which it is delivered to the razor blade feeding andwrap ping mechanisms of the machine. The formed wrapper strip feedingmeans comprises suitable wrapper strip guide means 14 in connection withwhich is provided a pair of feed rollers 15 and 16, between which thewrapper strip passes so as to be engaged by the pinch thereof andupwardly impelled by the operative movement thereof. Said wrapper stripfeed rollers are intermittently driven in synchronism with theintermittent movements of said web or strip advancing rollers 53-5 3 anddischarging rollers 55-56. An illustrativemeans for'so driving thewrapper strip feed rollers lE-lfi comprises a sprocket and chaintransmission means H which is driven by sprockets "l8 respectivelymounted on the shaftsfifi and fit of the respective rollers 53 and 55(see Fig. 1).

Actuated by its shaft 19 is a continuously rotated tumbling wheel, saidshaft thereof being journaled in and between the machine frame plates 22and 23, and said tumbling wheel being fixed on said shaft so as to bedisposed intermediate the frame plates 2! and 22. Said tumbling wheelcomprises a pair of laterally spaced wheel disks cc, whereby to providefree space therebetween. The overall width of the thus spaced wheeldisks substantially conforms to the width of the razor blades to beWrapped, being but slightly in excess thereof. The wheel disks 8!! arecorrespondingly provided, in equi-spaced relation around thecircumferences thereof, with a multiplicity of inwardly entering, radialslots '8! adapted to provide receiving pockets within which razor bladesand associated wrappers may be sue cessively entered endwise. Each slot8i is provided at its outer end with a flaring entrance mouth, the samebeing formed by divergent wall sections c2, which are respectivelyoutwardly inclined at a substantial angle to the planes of therespective wall faces of the slots 8! from which they extend.

Suitably affixed. to the exterior face of the machine frame plate 22,rearwardly of the tumbling wheel, is an upstanding blade magazine 83, inwhich the blades desired to be Wrapped may be stacked, so that the samemay discharge therefrom by gravity subject to engagement by reciprocatedblade delivery means by which they are successively inserted, togetherwith associated wrappers, into the receivingjpockets of said tumblingWheel.

Suitably, mounted between the machine frame plates 2| and 22, beneaththe blade magazine 83 and behind the tumbling wheel 88, is the bladedelivery means, the same comprising a reciprocable carriage 84 adaptedto be moved toward and from the tumbling wheel Bil in supportingslideway means 85. Fixed on said carriage 8 by their rearward bodyportions 86, are a pair of laterally spaced, forwardly projectingcarrier arms 87, and fixed upon and bridging said body portions 86,rearwardlyof said carrier arms 8.7, is a blade push plate 88. Pivotallymounted between said body portion 86 of the carrier arms is a tiltableauxiliary push bar 89 having a biiuroatsd. forward end portion whichextends for wardly between the carrier-arms 81 and beyond theextremities thereof, thereby providing. .a .pair of laterally spacedpush fingers .98. .Theltops :of the free end portionsof-said'rpushfingersall are upwardly inclined whereby .to increase theheight of their extremities, thereby providing vertical push faces 91.When said push fingers 95 are positioned for operative engagement with:axblade, said push faces :9l extend well above the horizontal plane ofmovement of the blade as1f0rwardl-y impelled bythe blade deliverymeanstoward andJforentrancedntoa receiving pocket of the tumbling wheel 80.Said auxiliary push bar 89 is yieldably disposed, by a compressionspring 92, -s---as'to-up-ti=1t its pussh fingers 98 to normal bladeengaging position. To this end said compression spring 92 is arranged tothrust downwardly-upon thetail endportion of said auxiliary push bar-dSaid tail end of'theauxiliary push bar is provided with an adjustablestop screw 93, which 'bears a-gainstthe carriage '84, whereby topredetermine 'the normal up-tilted working position of the push fingersBil and thei push faces Suitably fixed in a stationary position betweenthe blade magazine -83 and the tumbling wheel 80, and =in alignment withthe blade delivery means, -so as to be straddled by the push fingers 90and carrier arms (ll of the latter when they are advanced, is acradlebar 9 1. Said cradle bar'-94 is of a length exceeding the length of theblades, and formed in the top edge thereof is a shallow depression '95of less length than the length of theublades. Affixed to the lower endof the magazine 33, to project forwardly therefrom, in alignedoverhanging relation to said cradle bar 9 i a longitudinallyslottedbracket 96. Pivotally mounted in said slottedbracket is at least one-andpreferably two (as-shown) detent pawls 91, which are yieldably urged byleaf springs 98 so as to engage nosings '99 thereof with the cradle bar94 within its depression 85.

Means is provided for producing timed reciprocation of the bladedelivery-means. An illustrative form of this means (as shown) comprisesa rock-shaft me which is journaled in and between the machine frameplates 2| and 22. Fixed on this rock-shaft we is an actuating lever armii! I, to which is attached one end of a connecting rod I62. Theopposite end of said connecting rod 102 is pivotally connected with acrank arm M3 with which the previously mentioned gear wheel 12 on themachine drive shaft 51 is provided, whereby said gear wheel also servesas a continuously rotated crank means for actuating said rock-shaft it.Also fixed on said rockshaft is-a lever arm 'lM-to which is attached oneend of a connecting rod or link 1%, the opposite end of which ispivotally attached to the-carriage 84 of the blade delivery means. Aswill be obvious, oscillation of the rock-shaft [-03 will be transmittedby the lever arm :04 and connecting rod or link N55 to the carriage 84,whereby to cause reciprocable back and forth operative movements thereofand of the described blade impelling elements carried thereby.

Suitably arranged adjacent to but spaced below the plane of travel ofblades, as delivered from the magazine 133 to the tumbling wheelflfl, isa wrapper strip severing or wrapper cut off means which is operative, atproper time, to sever a wrapper from the upwardly fed free end of theWrapper strip, ready to be engaged an advanced lzlladc. wrappe stripsevering means comprises a stationary knife member 196,

whichisllocated adjacent to the periphery 'of'the tumbling wheel 80, anda cooperating movable knife member fill. The movable knife member 101:is .actuatedrby suitable operating and timing means (not shown), theprovision and arrangementof :which is within the skill of those familiarwith the wrapping machine art to produce.

.Also affixed to the blade magazine 83, so as to overhang the wrapperstrip severing means lint- H1 and the cradle bar 96 is a wrapper guardand deflectormeans 1-08.

In the operation of the machine, as thus far described, it willbe'understood that the tumbling wheel 81] is continuously rotated at apredetermined fixed speedby power transmission mechanism hereinafterdescribed. The blade delivery means'is in normal retracted position, asshown in Fig. .5, at the moment when a receiving pocket 8| of saidtumbling wheel is approaching a position for reception of a blade andassociated wrapper. Inlthe meantime, the free end of the wrapper striphas been upwardly advanced to position the leading wrapper sectionthereof through and beyond theopen knife members [GB-Hi1, and intoengagement with the wrapper uard and deflector means Hi8. By a previousforward operative stroke of the blade delivery means, a bladehas beenadvanced from the magazine 83 and deposited upon the cradle bar 94., soas to be held thereon against both lateral and rearward longitudinaldisplacement by the engaging detent pawls 9?, the nosings 99 of whichare permitted to enter through the blade slot by reason of thedepression -95 of said cradle bar, which-depression is bridged by theblade as supported-upon said cradle bar.

When the blade delivery means is in the stated retracted position, theleading end of the push plate-88 is disposed behind the rear end -of thebottom'blade'of the stack of blades held within the magazine'83, whichbottom blade, at this time, rests upon the carriage arms 81. During theapproaching travel of a receiving pocket of the continuously rotatedtumbling wheel 8!] toward alignment with the path of movement of bladesas forwardly impelled b3 the blade delivery means, the blade deliverystroke of the latter begins, whereby the bottom blade of the stack,which is supported by the carrier arms 81, is advanced with the latterby forwardmovement of the push plate 88, whereby to .bedeposited, at theend of the blade advancing stroke of said push plate, upon the cradlebar 94, and so as to be engaged and held in place thereon by the detentpawls 91. In the meantime, when the blade feeding stroke of the bladedelivery means is initiated, the push faces 91 of'the uptilted pushfingers 90 engage the-rearend of the outer blade which has beenpreviously advanced to and which is supported by :the cradle bar 94, sothat simultaneously with the forward impulsion of a blade from themagazine stack to said cradle bar, said previously deposited outer bladeis pushed forwardly .off of the cradle bar by the advancing pushfingersQfl, theldetentpawls'fll readily yielding 'to the advancingmovement of said .outer blade.

At or just previous to beginning of advancing movement ,of the outerblade, the movable knife member 10?! is swung toward and into.cooperation with the stationary knife member 5'08, whereby'to sever theendmost wrapper section fromthe wrapper strip. The severed wrapper issupported by the closed knife member Hll until it is engaged by theadvancing end of said outer blade, which blade end contacts with thewrapper at the junction of its lower end flapwith the body thereof,whereupon the blade and wrapper are advanced together toward thetumbling wheel 80, and so that the lower end flap is folded back uponand beneath the blade, as the blade and wrapper are moved across topportionsof the stationary knife member I56.

The blade advancing stroke of the blade delivery means is so timed thatthe leading end of the advanced associated blade and wrapper will reachthe periphery of the tumbling wheel 80 at substantially the moment thatthe outer margin of the leading divergent Wall section 82 of theapproaching receiving pocket 8! is aligned therewith (see Fig. 7).Thereafter, due to the flaring mouth of the blade receiving pocket, andnotwithstanding continuous rotary movement of the tumbling wheel andaccompanying inward movement of the associated blade and wrapper, thelatter, by following the contour of the pocket mouth, will be permittedto unobstruc'tedly move therethrough and inwardly relative to thetumbling wheel periphery, and thereupon continue to move into thereceiving pocket when the latter reaches alignment with the pathof blademovement. After said receiving pocket reaches alignment with the path ofblade movement, the entering blade and wrapper will partake. of therotary movement of the tumbling wheel, so that the rearward end of theblade will be moved upwardly along the push faces 9! of the push fingers90, but will remain in contact therewith and subject to continued inwardthrust of the latter until inward movement of the blade and wrapper intothe receiving pocket of the tumbling wheel is completed, at which timesaid rear end of the blade will be disengaged from said push faces M ofthe push fingers fill (see Fig. 8). By reason of this novel constructionand combination of blade feeding means and blade receiving pockets ofthe continuously rotated tumbling wheel, smooth entrance of associatedblades and wrappers into the tumbling wheel is assured, withoutnecessity for interrupting the continuous rotary motion of the latter;all of which contributes to high speed operation of the machine withconsequent substantial increase of blade wrapping capacity per minute; asustained wrapping capacity of at least 325 blades per minute havingbeen attained by the machine of this invention.

Upon completion of the insertion of a blade and wrapper into a receivingpocket of the tumbling wheel, the blade delivery means is timed to make7 its retractive stroke back to normal initial position, and forrepetition of the described blade and Wrapper feeding operations withrespect to a next following receiving pocket of the rotated tumblingWheel. When the blade feeding means is so retracted, the uptilted pushfingers 90 will yield downwardly, against the tension of the compressionspring 92, so as to pass beneath the blade which has been deposited andheld upon the cradle bar 94 (see Fig. 9). Upon completion ofthe'retractive stroke of the blade delivery means, said push fingers 98will be again uptilted by said spring 92, so as to be disposed behindthe rear end of theblade held on the cradle bar, ready to advance saidblade by the next ensuing operative stroke of the blade feeding means.

The associated blades and wrappers, when entered in the receivingpockets ti] of the i 10 tumbling wheel, are so disposed therein that thewrapper side flaps '41 extend exteriorly from the open sides ofsaidpockets, while the trailing wrapper end flaps project from themouths of said pockets and exteriorly from the periphery of the tumblingwheel. As thus disposed, the associated blades and wrappers are carriedforwardly by the rotating tumbling wheel from a horizontal position atthe rearward receiving side of the tumbling wheel to a horizontalposition at the forward discharge side of the latter, while at'the sametime the associated blades and wrappers are overturned so that thebodies of the wrappers which, as inserted Within the tumbling wheel,overlie the blades will underlie said blades when arriving at thedischarge side of the tumbling wheel.

Contiguous to the exterior sides of the upper forwardly moving half ofthe rotating tumbling wheel Bil are semi-circular wrapper side flapturning guide members Hi9, Which oppose the outwardly open sides of theblade and Wrapper carrying pockets SI of said tumbling wheel. At theirrearward ends, which are opposed to the blade and wrapper deliverymeans, said guide members [99 are provided with downwardly and outwardlyinclined wrapper side flap turning sections I I0, which are divergent tothe perpendicular planes of the tumbling wheel sides, and which lead toand merge with the inner guide faces I ll of said guide members whichare parallel to said perpendicular planes of the tumbling wheel'sides(see Fig. 10).

As the associated blades and wrappers are entered'in the receivingpockets of the tumbling wheel 80, the laterally and horizontallyprojecting wrapper side flaps 47 will extend beneath the bottom ends ofthe oblique flap turning sec tions Hit of the guide members I09, and, assaid wrapper side flaps are carried upward by the rotating tumblingwheel, the same will move in engagement with said flap turning sectionsIll! whereby to be down-turned to planes perpendicular to the blades andbodies of the wrappers,"being thereafter retained in the latter positionby engagement with the guide faces II I of the guide members I09 as theyare moved forward to the discharge side of the tumbling wheel.

Suitably supported adjacent to the discharge side of the tumbling wheel80, in horizontal plane in alignment with a receiving pocket Bl of saidwheel reaching horizontal discharge position, is achanneled guidewayformed by spaced channel forming members H2, the space between whichprovides a longitudinal through opening H3 adapted to provide a path ofmovement therethrough for transfer means by which an associatedblade andwrapper is discharged from the tumbling wheel and moved through saiduideway. Supported to extend transversely between the receiving end ofsaid channeled guide way H2 and the discharge side of said tumblingwheel 88 is a bracket arm I I4. Supported by said bracket arm is a lastwrapper end flap turning guide means formed by a perpendicular section II5'proiecting above the channeled guideway and a forwardly andhorizontally extending bifurcate anvil section H6, which extends throughthe channeled guideway I I2 in spaced relation to and above the floor ofthe latter. The outer side marginal portions of said anvil section H6are chamfered to provide substantially sharp edges ill, which are spacedaway from the side walls of thechanneled guideway for a distancesomewhat in excess of the thickness of the material of the bladewrappers. Said sharp edges HI provide means for defining the lines offold between the wrapper side fiaps and bodies, when the former areinfolded relative to the latter. The width of said anvil section H6, i.e. the distance between the opposite sharpedges H'I thereof, is somewhatin excess of the width of the blades, so that said edges H1 overhang andprotect the sharpened edges of the blades against contact by the wrapperside fiaps, when the latter are infolded thereover.

A folding means is provided at each side of the channeled guideway H2for successively intnrning the wrapper side flaps 41 as associatedblades and wrappers are moved through said guideway. Said folding meanscomprises an inner folder member H8 which is movable across the innerside of the guideway H2 and anvil section H5, and an outer folder memberH9 which is movable across the outer side of the guideway H2 and anvilsection H6. The rearward ends of said folder members H8 and H9 are eachshaped to provide inwardly and forwardly inclined oblique wrapper sideflap erecting guides I29, which function to dispose said wrapper sideflaps in upstanding positions in front of the respective folder members,preparatory to operation of the latter. Said inner folder member H8 ismounted on the upper end of an Oscillatable arm I2I, and in like manner,the outer folder member I I9 is mounted on the upper end of a similaroscillatable arm I22. Timed movements of said 05- cillatable arms I2Iand I22, relative to the passing of an associated blade and wrapperthrough the guideway H2 and relative to each other, are effected byactuating means to be hereinafter described. I

Constantly reciprocated transfer means is provided for discharging theblades and associated wrappers from the receiving pockets 6| of thetumbling wheel 80, and thence 'past. the last wrapper end fold turningguide means H5, and thence through the channeled guideway H2. andbeneath the anvil section H6, where subject to wrapper side flapmanipulation by the folder members H8 and H9. Said transfer meanscomprises longitudinally spaced pivoted carrier arms I23 and I2 5, therespective pairs of which depend from the machine frame plates 2i and22, below the path of travel of blades and associated wrappers throughthe machine, Pivotally connected to and between the free ends of thecarrier arms I23, by the forward parts of their upper ends, are invertedtriangular crank levers I25, and, in like manner, pivotally connected toand between the free ends of the carrier arms I24, also by the forwardparts of their upper ends, are similar inverted triangular crank leversI28. Pivotally connected to and between the lower ends of said cranklevers I25 and I26 is a parallel motion controlling link I22. Pivotallyconnected to and between the rearward parts of the upper ends of saidcrank levers I25 and I26 is a transfer member I28. Rigidly connectedwith the rearward parts of the upper ends of the crank levers I26 is aconnecting rod I29, the free end of which is coupled with a continuouslyrotated crank arm I20 by which operative motion is imparted to thetransfer means. Projecting upwardly from the transfer member I28 are aplurality of suitably spaced push fingers I3I. The transfer member I28with its push fingers I3I is so disposed and is of such thickness orwidth as to operatively move between the spaced discs which constitutethe tumbling wheel.

. fall motion is imparted to the latter.

1 2 80, and through the longitudinal openings I I3 of the guideway meansI I2 and the associated anvil section H6.

Owing to the compound leverage provided by the described pivotallyrelated carrier arms, crank levers and transfer member, when these partsare reciprocated by actuation of the crank arm and connecting rod, thecarrier arms will be caused to swing back and forth with accompanyingmovement of the crank levers about their points of pivotal connectionwith said carrier arms, whereby to effect a rise and fall of the pointsof pivotal connection between said crank levers and the transfer member,which rise and Owing to correlation of the length of the carrier arms,the spacing of the pivotal connections of said crank levers respectivelywith said carrier arms and with said transfer member, and the throw ofcrank arm, a reciprocable movement of the transfer member is inducedwhich imparts thereto a substantially level forward stroke while thetransfer member is raised to a plane permitting its push fingers toengage and forwardly impel blades and associated wrappers, followed, atthe end of, said forward stroke, by a downward withdrawal of saidtransfer member and retraction thereof and of its push fingers in aplane which lowers said push fingers so as to permit them to passrearwardly beneath the blades and associated wrappers; thereafter to beagain raised to engage and forwardly impel following blades andassociated wrappers. These operations will be understood from aninspection of Figs. 11 and 13 of the drawings. The means fortransmitting power to actuating crank arm I30 will be subsequentlydescribed.

In the operation of the machine, a receiving pocket 8| of the tumblingwheel 89, with its contained blade and associated wrapper, is carried bythe rotary movement of the wheel to the discharge side thereof, and assaid pocket approaches horizontal alignment with the channeled guidewayH2, the transfer member I28 is timed to complete its retractive strokeand rise so as to engage its rearmost push finger I3! behind the bladeand associated wrapper to be discharged from said pocket. As the bladeand associated wrapper passes discharge position, the forward movementof the transfer member I28 is initiated, and by its forward movement theengaging push fingers ISI thereof pushes the blade and associatedwrapper out of the tumbling wheel pocket, whereby the last, but nowleading, wrapper end flap, which has been upswung to upstanding positionby passing engagement with the rear face of said end flap turning guidemeans H5, is folded over into fiat lying position upon the blade body.Upon completion of the forward stroke of the transfer member I28, saidpush finger has advanced the blade and associated wrapper into thechanneled guideway H2 and beneath the anvil section H6, where they dwellwhile the transfer member is retracted preparatory to a succeedingforward stroke operative upon a succeeding blade and associated wrapper.While the advanced blade and associated wrapper is supported by anddwells in the channeled guideway H2, the folder members H8 and H9 aretimed to operate, in such manner that the inner folder member H8 firstmoves to fold the inner wrapper side flap around the inner sharp anvilsection edge HT and over the anvil section and blade, whereafter theouter folder member H9 is actuated to fold the outer wrapper side flaparound the opposite sharp anvil section edge H1 and over the anvilsection and blade into overlapping relation to said inner wrapper sideflap, thus completing the wrapper folding operations. On the nextensuing forward stroke of the transfer member I28, a forwardly spacedpush-finger thereof engages the wrapped blade and discharges it from thechanneled guideway I I2, while the rearmost push-finger carries asucceeding blade and associated wrapper out of the tumbling wheel andinto said channeled guideway and beneath the anvil section, ready forrepetition of the above described wrapper folding operations.

Actuated by its shaft I32 is a second continuously rotated tumblingWheel I33, said shaft' thereof being also journaled in and between themachine frame plates 22 and 23. Said second tumbling wheel I 33 is ofthe same construction as that of the previously described tumbling wheel33, and is provided with similar radially disposed, laterally openreceiving pockets I34 having flared entrance mouths formed by divergentwall sections E35. Said second tumbling Wheel I33 is positioned adjacentto the discharge end of the channeled guideway I I2.

Suitably supported above and behind said second tumbling wheel I33 is amagazine I36 for holding a supply of preformed outer wrappers in whichthe previously wrapped blades may in turn be wrapped. Said magazine I36includes means for automaticaly and successively feeding said outerwrappers to the second tumbling wheel to and for entrance into thepockets thereof together with aforesaid previously wrapped blades. Forconvenience of description, and in order to avoid confusion thereof withsaid previously described inner wrappers, said outer wrappers arehereinafter referred to as envelopes. Said outer wrappers or envelopesare preformed to each comprise a body having end flaps extending fromits opposite ends and side flaps extending from its opposite sides. Saidpreformed envelopes are arranged in a stack within the magazine I36. Themeans for successively feeding the envelopes from the bottom of thestack thereof supported within the magazine I36, and so as to makeproperly timed delivery thereof successively to the second tumblingwheel I33, comprises a rotated discharging roll I3! which is adapted toengage the bottom envelope of the stack, and a series of suitablypositioned and spaced pairs of intergeared feed rolls I38, I39 and I40.Said rolls are driven from a drive shaft I4! by suitably interposed tranmission gearing I 42. The means for transmitting operating power to saiddrive shaft I4I will be later herein described. Envelope guide means I43is arranged for cooperation with said feed rolls along the path ofmovement of the envelopes as impelled by the latter. Said guide meansterminates in means I44 suitably constructed and arranged to hold theultimately delivered envelope in position to be operatively engaged byan advanced wrapped blade. The envelope feeding arrangement is such andis so timed that an envelope is delivered and positioned intermediatethe discharge end of the channeled guideway I I2 and the periphery ofthe second tumbling wheel I33 just beforea wrapped blade is dischargedfrom said channeled guideway by the transfer member I28. Suitablysupported and disposed in front of a delivered envelope, andintermediate the same and the periphery of said second tumbling wheelI33, is a stationary envelope end flap folding bar I45.

14 Located for extension from the discharge side of the second tumblingwheel I33 is a channeled discharge guideway I45 similar in constructionto that of the previously described channeled guideway I I2. Associatedwith the receiving end portion of said discharge guideway I46 is astationary upstanding end flap turning guide member I 41, from the lowerend of which extends a bifurcated anvil section I 48 arranged to overliethe receiving end portion of said guideway I46. The outer sides of saidanvil section I48 are provided with substantially sharp edges I49, whichdefine lines of fold between the envelope side flaps and bodies, whenthe former are infolded relative to the latter. Envelope side flapfolding devices, similar in form and mode of operation to the wrapperside flap folding devices previously described, are located respectivelyat opposite sides of the receiving end portion of the discharge guidewayI46 and its contained anvil section I48. Said envelope side flap foldingdevices comprise an inner folder member I59 and an outer folder memberI5I, each provided at their rearward ends with oblique erecting guidesI52 for disposing the envelope side flaps in upstanding positions infront of the respective folder members I and I 5i, preparatory tooperation of the latter. Said inner folder member I 50 is mounted on theupper end of an oscillatablearm I53, and, in like manner, said outerfolder member is mounted on a similar oscillatable arm I54. Timedoperation of said arms I53 and I54 is effected by'common actuating meanshereinafter described, simultaneously with the operations of the armsI2! and I22 of the wrapper side flap folder members H8 and I I9.

Mounted adjacent to the outer face of the second tumbling wheel I33, atthe discharge side thereof, is means IIlilfor upturning the outer sideflaps of the envelope to a position perpendicular to the envelopebodies, as said envelopes and associated wrapped blades are carried tothe point of discharge from said second tumbling wheel for entrance intothe discharge guideway I46.

Positioned adjacent to the inner face of said second tumbling wheel I33,at the discharge side thereof, is means for applying glue to the outerside flaps of the envelopes,'preparatory to discharge from said wheeland subsequent infolding thereof. Said glue applying means is alsooperative to upturn said outer side flaps of the envelopes to positionsperpendicular to the envelope bodies. Said glue applying means comprisesan upwardly open stationary glue pot I55 which is supported from themachine frame plate 22, so that a wall I53 thereof adjacently opposesthe inner faceof the second tumbling wheel I33 at the discharge side ofthe latter. Pivotally fulcrumed on the machine frame plate 23 is atransversely'extending, vertically oscillatable lever I51 which extendsoutwardly through an cpeningl58 in the machine frame plate 22, wherebyto dispose its free end in overhanging relation to the glue pot I55.Suitably coupled with and dependent from the free end of said lever I5!is a glue dauber I59 which is provided with an outwardly and upwardlyturned free end portion I31] adapted to provide a glue applicatorelement. On

downswinging movement of the lever I51, the

glue dauber I55 is dipped into the glue content of the pot I55. Onupswinging movement of the lever I51, the glue dauber 959 is withdrawnfrom the pot I55, and its glue applicator element I65, which has pickedup glue from the pot, is carried upwardly against'the downwardlydirected outer amazes l face of an envelope inner side flap, which is-bei-ng moved'by thev tumbling wheel I33 toward the pointofi dischargetherefrom, whereby to apply a spot of glue to the exterior surface ofsaid envelope side fiap (see Figs. 16 and 17). After such glueapplication is made, the dauber I59 is immediately again lowered intothe glue, ready for arepetition of the operations. As the rotatingtumbling wheel I33 thereaftercarries the envelope toward the point ofdischarge from said wheel, thev glue spotted side flap will be engagedby the wall I56 of the glue pot I55, so as to be upturned thereby fromhorizontal glue receiving position to a position perpendicular to theenvelope body, and thus ready for discharge from the wheel and into thedischarge guideway M6; In order to-prevent smearing or undue spreadingof glue on the envelope side flap to which it is applied, and also toprevent contact of the glue with and undesired accumulation thereof uponthe glue pot" wall I56, the face of the latter is provided withdepressed clearance channels I6I (see Fig. 16), through which theapplied glue spot may undisturbedly move, as said side flap is upturnedand thereafter traverses said glue pot wall I55. The means fortransmitting operating power to the oscillatable lever [52' of the gluedauber I59" will: be hereinafter described.

'lEo further describe the operation of the machine, as a receivingpocket I34 of the second tumbling wheel I33, at the" receiving side ofthe latter, approaches position to receive a wrapped blade issuing fromthe channeled guideway H2,- an envelope is delivered from the magazineI36 so as to be positioned ready to be engaged by the advanced wrappedblade. In properly timed sequence, a push finger fill of the transfermember I28 will be disposed behind the wrapped blade inthe channeledguideway H2, whereupon, by a forward operative stroke of said transfermember, a wrapped blade will be discharged from the gu-idewayIlE so asto engage the positioned envelope, whereby to advance the lattertherewith to the second tumbling wheel I33. As the wrapped blade andassociated envelope are thus advanced, the downwardly extending end flapof said envelope will be moved across the folding bar I45, whereby toinfold said end flap against the then underface of the wrapped blade.The continued movement of the engaging push finger E3! of the transfermember I28 will move the wrapped blade and associated envelope throughthe mouth portion and-thence on into a passing receiving pocket I34 ofthe continuously rotated tumbling wheel !-33, substantially in the samemanner, as above described, in which a blade and associated wrapper isintroduced into the first tumbling wheel 80.

By the rotation of the second tumbling wheel L33, a wrapped blade andassociated envelope will be carried forwardly to the discharge side ofsaid wheel, and in the process will be overturned 0r reversed so thatthe envelope side flap may be turned upwardly across the side edges ofthe Wrapped blade. Upon reaching the point of discharge from thetumbling wheel I33, a forward push finger I3I of the transfer member I28will be caused to a e and eject the wrapped blade and associatedenvelope from said' tumbling wheel and into the receiving end portion ofthe discharge guideway I46; the inner side flap of the envelope having,in the meantime, been spotted with glue, and both envelope side flapsturned to: upstanding perpendicula relation to and across the sides of.the contained wrapped blade. When ejected by the transfer member I28from said tumbling wheel I33, the still unfolded end flap of theenvelope will be turned and infolded over the contiguous end of thewrapped blade, as said flap is carried in passing engagement with theflap turning guide member I41. After deposit in the receiving endportion of the channeled discharge guideway I46, and while the transfermember I28 is making a retractlve or recovering stroke, the foldermembers I50" and I51 are timed to operate, so that the inner foldermember I55! first moves to infold the inner side flap of the envelopewith its glue spotted face upward, whereafter the outer folder memberI5'I is actuated to infold the outer side flap of the envelope intooverlapping relation to said inner side flap, and in contact with theglue thereon, whereby said outerside flap is adherently secured to saidinner side flap.- In this manner, the wrapping of an outer wrapper orenvelope about a previously wrapped blade is completed, so that theassembly is ready for discharge from the machine.

The envelope enclosed wrapped blades are moved onward and outwardthrough the discharge guideway I46 by additional forwardly spaced pushfingers I3I with which the transfer member I28 is provided. The outerend portion of the guideway I46 is preferably provided with a coverplate 532, beneath which the adhered side flaps of the envelopes maypass so as tobe held together while the glue sets.

The envelope enclosed wrapped blades may be collected as discharged fromthe outer end of the discharge guideway :55 in any suitable manner andby any suitable means. Preferably, how'- ever, an outgoing collectingchute IE3 isprovided to extend right angularly from the discharge end ofthe guideway I 26. Located in the receiving end of said collecting chuteIE3, so as to receive the enveloped wrapped blades from said guideway I''lli, is a continuously rotated upsetting roll i6 3 having peripheralpockets IE5 to successively receive the discharged enveloped wrappedblades. By the operation of said upsetting roll I64, the receivedenveloped wrapped blades are upset sidewise from a horizontal positionto an up standing position in which they are deposited by said roll inthe collecting chute H33, so as to progressively accumulate therein toform a stack thereof. The thus accumulated and'stacked en-- vclopedwrapped blades may be removed at will from the collecting chute forcartoning or other packing operations.

The various mechanisms for transmitting power to the moving parts of themachine, whereby to relatively time and correlate the movements'thereof,is subject, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates, to more or less variation in arrangementand kind,but, for purpose of illustration, forms and arrangements of powertransmissionmechanisms found to be satisfactory are shown, in the main,by Fig. 20 of the drawings.

As hereinbefore stated, the machine vided with a power driven shaft Elwhich is equipped with clutch mechanism 58. Slidabl'e on the power shaft5'! is a clutch actuating cone I St, cooperative with which is a shiftyoke I-GT. Said shift yoke is affixed to and operated by a suitablysupported rock-shaft Iti Said rock shaft is in turn actuated by anoperating shaft use which is geared to thei'ormer by intermediate bevelgearing I'It. Said operating shaft I58 extends to and outwardly fromthe-front of the 17 machine, its exterior end being furnished with ahand lever ill (see Fig. 1) by which it is manipulatable for throwing inand out the clutch mechanism 58 at will.

The transmission of drive of the power shaft 51 to the inner wrapperpaper feed mechanism, to the inner wrapper blanking die mechanism andwrapper strip feed means, as well as to the plates 22 and 23,intermediate the shafts 19 and I32 of the tumbling wheels 9!] and I93,is a second countershaft I15. Said second countershaft I15 is drivenfrom'the countershaft I12 by interconnecting sprocket and chaintransmission means I16. Fixed on said second countershaft I15 is a drivegear I11 which meshes with and drives the respective gear wheels I18 andI19 which are fast on the respective tumbling wheel shafts 19 and I32,whereby said tumbling wheels 80 and I33 are simultaneously driven, incountor-clockwise direction as shown, at equal constant speeds.

A third countershaft liill is journaled in and between the machine frameplates 22 and 23 ad- J'acent to the countershaft I12, and is adapted tor be driven by a gear I8! thereon from the gear wheel I13 of said lattercountershaft. To the outer end of said third countershaft I30 is affixedthe crank arm I 30 by which the transfer member I 28 is actuated.

The means for actuating the inner folding devices which are operativeupon the inner wrapper side flaps and the inner envelope side flapscomprises a bearing bracket I 82 which is amxed to and project inwardlyfrom the machine frame plate 2|. Mounted in said bearing bracketIflE isan inner rock shaft I83, to the respective ends of which are aflixedupwardly extending carrier levers I 81. Secured to and across saidcarrier levers I89 is a longitudinally disposed carrier bar H855, to therespective rearward and forward ends of which are affixed, for upwardextension therefrom, the respective oscillatable arms I 21 and I53 whichsupport the respective inner folder members H8 and I59. One of saidcarrier leversterminates at its lower end in a bell-crank portionincluding an inwardly extending suitably shaped transverse arm I86 bywhich the inner folding device structure is oscillated by meanssubsequently referred to. The means for actuating the outer foldingdevices which are operative upon the outer wrapper side flaps and outerenvelope side flaps similarly comprises an outer rock shaft E31, whichis also mounted in said bearing bracket I32. rock shaft 581 are affixedupwardly extending carrier levers i556. Secured to and across saidcarrier levers its is a longitudinally disposed carrier bar H351, to therespective rearward and forward ends of which are aflixed, for upwardextension therefrom, the respective oscillatable arms I22 and I 5% whichsupport the respective outer folder members I it and lei; One of saidcarrier levers I83 terminates at its lower end in a bell-crank Totherespective ends of said outer is alongitudinal lay shaft I92, whichlies beneath the tumbling wheel shafts l8 and i1 2 and said secondcountershaft I15. Saidlay shaft I92 is. drivenfrom said countershaft I39by intermeshing bevel gearing 93. Fixed on said lay shaft I92 is a camI94 for actuating the inner folding device structure, and to this endbeing engaged by the bell-crank arm i815, through an anti-frictionroller" I95 which is carried by the free end portion of said bell-crankarm. Said bell-crank arm 586 is retained in operative engagement with Isaid cam I94 by a suitably anchored pull spring I95. In like manner,also fixed on said lay shaft I92 is a cam I91 for actuating the outerfolding device structure, which cam I91 is engaged by the bell-crankHit, through an anti-friction roller I98 which is carried by the freeend portion of said bell-crank arm I99. Said bell-crank arm I9!) is alsoretained in operative engagement with saidcam I91 by a suitably anchoredpull spring I99.

The means for operatingthe glue dauber actuating lever IE1 is alsodriven by the lay shaft I92, and comprises an eccentric 299, theconnecting rod ZBI of which is pivotally coupled tosaid lever I51intermediate the ends of the latter.

The means for transmitting power to the drive shaft MI of the envelopedelivery means comprises a fourthcountershaft 292 which is journaled inand between bearings 293 carried by machine frame plates. Saidcountershaft 202 is driven by intermeshing spiral gears 284 from saidlay, shaft I92. Said drive shaft MI of the envelope delivery means isdriven from said countershaft 202 by a sprocket and chain transmission205. I

The means for driving the blade discharge stacking and upsetting rollI64 comprises a countershaft 296 which is mounted in a bearing bracket261 at the machine end. This counter v shaft 296 drives the shaft 298 ofthe upsetting roll I64 through intermeshing bevel gearing 209. Saidcountershaft 206 is driven from the counter. shaft I12 by a sprocket andchain transmission 2H1.

It will be understood that the instant invention may be embodied in amachine as above described whereby to enclose razor blades in both aninternal wrapper and an outer envelope, or, optionally, in either thewrapper alone or in the envelope alone.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for wrapping razor blades and the like, a continuouslyrotated tumbling wheel provided with a series of radial receivingpockets having opposed substantially parallel walls terminating at theirouter ends in divergent wall sections oblique to the'planes thereof,said wall sections thus providing said pockets with outwardly flaredmounts adapted to provide clearance for entering movement of blades andassociated wrapping means into said pockets as the latter approach apredetermined loading point plane, and. means for advancing blades withassociated wrapping means toward the tumbling wheel along a loadingpoint plane radial to said wheel',said advancing means having a bladeengaging push face perpendicular to said loading point plane andprojecting a substantial distance above the level of said plane, wherebyto maintain inthrusting engagement with a blade after the tumbling wheelpocket receiving the blade passes beyond said loading point plane andimparts wheel movement to the blade and until the blade is fully enteredin said pocket.

2. A machine for wrapping razor blades and the like as defined in claim1, wherein said blade advancing means comprises a reciprocated bladecarrier means and associated push plate, a magazine for holding a stackof blades so that the bottom blade will engage said carrier means and beadvanced therewith from the stack by said push plate, a stationarycradle means to support a blade carried thereto by said carrier means inan advanced position toward said tumbling wheel, detent means forretaining said advanced blade against lateral and rearward displacementfrom said cradle bar, and a downwardly yieldable push finger meansmovable with said carrier means, said push finger means having the bladeengaging push face at its free end, the free end of said push fingermeans projecting forwardly beyond said carrier means whereby, uponretraction of the latter, to be disposed to engage said advanced bladefor effecting final movement thereof toward and into said tumblingwheel.

3. In a machine for wrapping razor blades and the like: a continuouslyrotated tumbling wheel and associated wrapper folding means, saidtumbling wheel having a series of radial pockets for reception of bladesand associated wrappers, said pockets having opposed substantiallyparallel walls terminating at their outer ends in divergent wallsections oblique to the planes thereof, said wall sections thusproviding said pockets with outwardly flared mouths adapted to provideclearance for entering movement of blades and associated wrappers intosaid pockets as the latter approach a predetermined loading point plane,means for successively advancing blades from a supply thereof along saidloading point plane toward the tumbling wheel, said blade advancingmeans comprising a reciprocated blade carrier means and associated pushplate, a magazine for holding a stack of blades so that the bottom bladewill engage said carrier means and be advanced therewith from the stackby said push plate, a stationary cradle means to support a blade carriedthereto by said carrier means in an advanced position toward saidtumbling wheel, detent means for retaining said advanced blade againstlateral and rearward displacement from said cradle bar, a downwardlyyieldable push finger means movable with said carrier means, the freeend of said push finger means projecting forwardly beyond said carriermeans whereby, upon retraction of the latter, to be disposed to engagesaid advanced blade for effecting final movement thereof toward and intosaid tumbling wheel, said free end of the push finger means having apush face perpendicular to the loading point plane and projecting asubstantial distance above the level 'of said plane, whereby to maintainin-thrusting engagement thereof with a blade after the tumbling wheelpocket receiving the blade passes beyond said loading point plane andimparts movement to the blade and until the blade is fully entered insaid pocket,

and means to deliver a wrapper blank in the path of and subject toengagement by a blade advanced from said cradle bar whereby to beassembled with said blade and entered therewith into said tumblingwheel.

4. In a machine for wrapping razor blades having: a continuously rotatedtumbling wheel provided with a series of laterally open radial pocketsto receive blades and associated wrappers as introduced into the wheelat one side thereof and including means to partially fold the wrappersrelative to the blades, a channeled guideway to receive and support ablade and associated wrapper as discharged from the opposite side of thewheel with side flaps of the wrapper disposed perpendicular to theblade, means associated with said guideway for folding a projecting endflap around the adjacent blade end as a blade and associated wrappermove from the wheel into said guideway, anvil means extending into saidguideway in spaced relation to the bottom and sides thereof and beneathwhich a blade and associated end flap folded wrapper passes with saidwrapper side flaps upstanding therefrom along sides of said anvil means,said anvil means having sharp side edges to define wrapper side flapfold determining lines, successively operated oscillatable foldingdevices respectively movable across opposite sides of said guideway andanvil, whereby to infold wrapper side flaps around said anvil edges oneover the other, and transfer means operative to discharge the blades andassociated wrappers from said tumbling wheel to and through saidguideway subject to the operation of said folding devices.

5. In a machine for wrapping razor blades and the like as defined inclaim 4, wherein said wrapper side flap folding devices comprise aninner folder member extending in a plane above and parallel to the planeof said guideway and anvil means, pivoted lever means by which saidinner folder member is moved in and out across the inner side of saidguideway and anvil means, a similar outer folder member also extendingin a plane above and parallel to the plane of said guideway and anvilmeans, a second pivoted lever means by which said outer folder member ismoved in and out across the outer side of said guideway and anvil means,and rotated cams for respectively actuating said lever means inrelativel timed relation so that the inner folder member is'moved inwardin advance of the outer folder member, whereby to overlap one side flapof a wrapper upon the opposite in-folded side flap.

6. In a machine for wrapping razor blades, a pair of opposedcontinuously and synchronously rotated tumbling wheels comprising afirst wheel and a second wheel, each said wheel being provided with aseries of radial receiving pockets having opposed substantially parallelwalls terminating at their outer ends in divergent Wall 7 sectionsoblique to the planes thereof, said wall sections thus providing saidpockets with outwardly flared mouths adapted to provide clearance forentering and discharging movement of blades and associated wrappers intoand from said wheels, means for introducing blades with associated innerwrappers into said first wheel, means cooperative with said first wheelfor partially enveloping the blades in inner wrappers while carried bysaid first Wheel, means intermediate said wheels for completing thewrapping of said inner wrappers, means for partially enveloping bladescontained in the inner wrappers in outer wrappers while carried by saidSecond wheel, means at the discharge side of said second wheel forcompleting the wrapping of said outer wrappers, a single propellingmeans operative to move the blades and associated inner wrappers fromthe first wheel through said inner wrapper completing means and thencewith associated outer wrappers into said second Wheel and out of thelatter through said outer wrapper completing means, said inner and outerwrapper completing means each comprising a blade and wrapper assemblyreceiving and supporting guideway, wrapper side flap folding meanscooperative with said guideways, said foldingmeans comprising innerfolder members respectively extending in a plane above and parallel tothe remembers are moved inwardly in advance of the outer folder members,whereby to overlap flaps at the outer side of a blade upon previouslyinfolded flaps at the inner side of a blade.

JOHN EDWIN MILLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,836,019 Evans et a1. Dec. 15,1931 1,915,550 schmitt June 2'7, 1933 2,079,328 McBean May 4, 19372,131,428 Dalkowitz Sept. 27, 1938 2,268,474 Chalmers Dec. 30, 19412,426,314 Malhoit Aug. 26, 1947

